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Jumpstarter 10 of 10

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Bible and Early Church History  /  Blood of the Martyrs  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
His description of church life includes “rebukes and sacred censures,” excommunication for grievous sin, voluntary giving for the poor and imprisoned, refusing spectacles, and an agape feast marked by prayer, modesty, and shared hymns; which of these early-Christian practices would most disrupt a typical modern church, and what heart motives (fear, comfort, reputation, individualism) keep us from embracing them?
Another way to ask: Tertullian describes church life with public correction, kicking out unrepentant members, generous giving, avoiding entertainment shows, and shared meals with prayer and modest behavior. Which of these would most shock a modern church, and what fears or comforts keep us from doing them?

Direct Answer The provided transcript does not include Tertullian’s detailed description of church life you list (rebukes/censures, excommunication, giving for prisoners, refusing spectacles, agape-feast details), so it doesn’t allow a fully grounded comparison. A reasonable inference from what we do have is that disciplined non-retaliation, public confession, and readiness to suffer would strongly disrupt modern comfort and reputation-driven church culture.

Support from Transcript:

  • The transcript emphasizes Christians don’t retaliate: “If injured, we are forbidden to retaliate,” and he asks what “single case of revenge” can be shown.
  • Christians accept suffering rather than violence: it is “counted better to be slain than to slay another.”
  • They confess openly: “Interrogated, he makes voluntary confession,” and “Condemned, he renders thanks.”
  • Their worship is prayerful and costly: the “noble sacrifice of prayer sent forth from a chaste body,” not token incense.
  • They are willing to lose status and safety: “go ahead, rend us… hang us… wrap us up in flames,” showing comfort is not their master.
Discussion Follow-ups Which matters more to us—safety/reputation or truth? If a church regained this kind of courage and non-retaliation, what would it expose about our individualism and love of comfort?

Jumpstarter 10 of 10
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